text:
Skip Hire Great Barford from YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk
YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk is Great Barford's number one skip hire firm. Working all over the UK, from Land's End to John O'Groats, we're able to provide fast, effective skip hire solutions to both businesses and individuals.
Be sure to size up your skip before you request a quote. Our simple skip sizing guide will make sure you're not left with too little space, or paying for space that you're never going to fill. And whether you're clearing a house or carrying out a building project, we'll have a skip to suit.
To request your no-obligation quote and book your skip, just add your postcode in the quote request form above, or call us on 0330 1130 700. We'll get back to you with a competitive price, and you won't have to worry about jumping through hoops to hire the skip you need.


text:
WORLD Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president John Fahey has launched an astonishing broadside against the NRL after ASADA's interviews with Cronulla players were halted last week.
The former NSW premier has accused the NRL of lacking leadership to deal with the investigation and said the AFL's reaction to the probe, which has engulfed Essendon, was a breath of fresh air in comparison.
ASADA has been probing Cronulla since the investigation was launched in February but was only able to commence interviews with players from the club last Monday.
However, the proceedings were halted following the first interview with Sharks back-rower Wade Graham with lawyers from both parties failing to agree on the line of questioning.
More than a week on and the NRL is still investigating the transcript from the interview and Graham could be suspended should it be deemed he failed to cooperate fully with ASADA.
On Monday the Bombers revealed the findings of an internal review conducted by former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski, which found an alarming lack of governance over the AFL club's controversial supplements program.
Essendon players will be interviewed by ASADA later this week and Fahey said the AFL had been far more proactive in dealing with the situation than the NRL.
"I believe at the moment as a club and as an administration they've said 'we took our eye off the ball, we didn't do it right. We have to improve,''' Fahey told Sky News. "The AFL has conducted enquires and they've acknowledged they have a problem.
"What a breath of fresh air that is. From what I am seeing as a casual observer that is not happening in Sydney with rugby league. I wish I could see the same leadership in Sydney as I see in Melbourne.''
Graham was roundly criticised for his casual attire when he attended the meeting and Fahey has voiced his disapproval at the lack of answers from the NRL about why the interviews have been abandoned.
"There's been a profound silence from rugby league in the wake of what followed,'' he said. "Information has been given to ASADA by the ACC (Australian Crime Commission) but it must make its own enquiries.
"It sought cooperation from rugby league and from what I can see from the first interview the lawyers there prevented any answers being given.
"So much so, it seems little point in ASADA continuing.
"But the information is not going to go away and it means it will drag on much longer.
"Ultimately it will come home to roost. It took more than two years of forensic information to get Lance Armstrong and he's now viewed as the greatest fraud in sport.
"I'm not suggesting it is a similar problem but rugby league needs to allow this to be properly dealt with and the sooner it will disappear.''
Fahey also warned that the wall of silence could have major repercussions for the game.
"There is a risk of complete meltdown if this stonewalling continues,'' Fahey said. "Those who are involved could find themselves dealt with more harshly than had they cooperated.''
The NRL released a statement responding to Fahey late on Tuesday: "The seriousness of the matters announced by the ACC has always demanded an ASADA investigation and that is the authority that we support absolutely in this process,'' it read. "We are ready to act once ASADA can provide information which would substantiate an infraction notice and they are aware of that fact.
"Our position all along has been that the investigation must be as thorough as the legal process will allow and we continue to assist ASADA just as we have from the outset.''
Originally published asWADA chief John Fahey slams NRL

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Two new posters have arrived for a pair of September releases that I'm really looking forward to. First up is a new poster for The Words, a romantic drama from debut directors Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal that stars Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Irons. Cooper plays a young writer who passes off another author's work as his own and deals with the consequences that inevitably arise. The Words opens September 7th.
A second poster comes to us today for director Jake Schreier's Robot and Frank. The buddy comedy stars Frank Langella as a retired jewel thief who seeks to resume his criminal ways with the help of a companion robot, voiced by Peter Sarsgaard. Robot and Frank opens August 24th. Hit the jump to check out the new posters.
Here's the poster for The Words (via Fandango):
Here's the official synopsis for The Words:
Rory Jansen, a struggling writer, aspires to be the next great literary voice. When he discovers a lost manuscript in a weathered attaché case, he realizes he possesses something extraordinary that he desperately wishes he had created. Rory decides to pass the work off as his own and finally receives the recognition he desperately craves. However, he soon learns that living with his choice will not be as easy as he thought as he faces a moral dilemma that will make him take a hard look at the man he has become.
In their directorial debut, Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal have crafted a subtle tale that examines how overwhelming desire can lead to unforeseen and unwanted consequences. Bolstered by a strong cast, led by Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons, The Words adeptly assembles multiple narratives that reveal how one man's lost legacy holds the life of another man captive.
And here's the new poster for Robot and Frank:
Here's the synopsis for Robot and Frank:
Set in the near future, Frank (Frank Langella) a retired jewel thief gets a new lease on life when he is introduced to a surprising new companion. With the help of his new friend, he attempts to woo a local librarian (Susan Sarandon) and resume his criminal escapades. ROBOT & FRANK is directed by first time filmmaker Jake Schreier, written by Christopher Ford (TVs "Atom TV"), and produced by Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord.


text:
Seekers' Page
The Seekers' Page is designed to provide background information for understanding the philosophy that we believe is behind Harry Potter. This philosophy is universal and timeless. Here you will find books and links on subjects such as alchemy, psychology, and various religious and spiritual ideas and systems.
We are putting a special emphasis on the alchemical version of this philosophy as Jo Rowling is using alchemical symbols quite widely.
Books for Seekers
Our Books for Seekers section is to help you find books which, in our opinion, explain aspects of the philosophy underlying "Harry Potter".
Click on a book cover or title to view full review.
Here are links to websites containing spiritual articles and books. A special section has links to websites of organisations which purport to have alchemical or liberating teachings.
The Aurora of the philosophers
C. G. Jung and the Alchemical Renewal
Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception Illustrations & Guides
The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception (or Mystic Christianity)
Portals and Information Sites
101 Top Sites on Religion and Sacred Texts
Seeker Resources
The International School of the Golden Rosycross
The Yahoo discussion group: Summa Scientia
Summa Scientia is a group under the aegis of "Harry Potter for Seekers". Our aim is to discuss the Path of Liberation which is symbolically indicated by Harry Potter. The teachings of liberation from suffering, sorrow and death have been handed down to humanity in legends, myths and spiritual epics for many thousands of years. All these works, including the Bible, the Corpus Hermeticum, The Alchemical Wedding of Christian Rosycross, the Tao Teh Ching and the teachings of the Buddha, as well as the writing of modern authors such as Bailey, Blavatsky, Heindel, Steiner and Van Rijckenborgh are discussed here.
We study the Path that was trodden by the pupils of the ancient Mystery Schools, the Gnostics, the Alchemists, and the Rosicrucians. Their teachings are all symbolically hidden in Harry Potter. When the emphasis is mainly on Harry Potter the discussion is held in HarryPotterforSeekers, but when the emphasis shifts away to more general spiritual subjects we discuss them in this group.
Our group motto is SUMMA SCIENTIA NIHIL SCIRE: "The highest knowledge is to know nothing" - The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosycross.
The group is open to all members of the public who are interested in the teachings of liberation.
Click here to visit Summa Scientia.


text:
Episode 87, Mystery Radio Podcast
The Mystery Radio Podcast brings you radio broadcasts featuring vintage tales of mystery, horror and suspense that originally aired in the 1940's and 1950's. Tonight's show is an episode of the Dark Fantasy radio program. If you have any questions or comments about our podcast, please send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Thank you for listening!


text:
> Turns out the Brewers aren't the only team expressing interest in Ryan Dempster. In fact, the other two teams could be very tough to bid against, seeing as they each reside in relatively big markets.
The two teams the Brewers will have to deal with are the Angels and Red Sox, both of whom are in desperate need of a starting pitcher; perhaps even more so than the Brewers.
If the Brewers don't end up signing a veteran starter this offseason, it isn't the end of the world. The Brewers still have a nice crop of big league-ready starting pitching prospects to choose from, including Mike Fiers, Wily Peralta, Mark Rogers, and Tyler Thornburg. The same can't be said for the Angels or Red Sox, however. The reason the Angels acquired Zack Greinke at the Trade Deadline was because of their lack of prospects ready to start at the big league level, and now they're in jeopardy of not being able to re-sign Greinke. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have just had all sorts of starting pitching issues over the past few years, and now they're trying to dip into the free agent market to fix it.
Despite the fact both of these teams have bigger markets than Milwaukee (though we have a ton of payroll flexibility right now), the Brewers could hold a few advantages. The first is that the Brewers are the only of these three teams in the National League. After posting a 5.09 ERA with the Rangers in the second half of 2012, which is his only extended period of pitching in the American League, it goes without saying that Dempster is an NL pitcher. Dempster's success at Miller Park could also factor into the decision.
Or, the Brewers could get lucky and one of the other teams will drop out of the bidding. Last year, it was speculated early in the offseason that the Phillies- who needed a third baseman- were targeting Aramis Ramirez. There was no doubt in my mind that they were going to sign him and the Brewers would be left hanging, but the Phils unexpectedly dropped out and left Ramirez for the taking. It's unlikely, but perhaps similar circumstances will ensue this offseason.
Anyway, like I said earlier, it isn't the apocalypse (not until December 21st, that is) if the Brewers don't sign Dempster. Their farm system is ready to occupy a few of the rotation spots if need be. And Dempster isn't the only guy on the market. There are guys like Kyle Lohse and Edwin Jackson out there, who could also be potential fits for the Brewers (though, as I've preached, Dempster is the much safer play).
Dempster isn't a neccesity, but could be a very nice asset to the 2013 Brewers.
> Tomorrow is the deadline to tender or non-tender arbitration-eligible players. John Axford, Marco Estrada, and Carlos Gomez appear to be locks to be tendered contracts. Chris Narveson will probably be given a contract. The only guy who isn't so likely to be tendered is Manny Parra, who I wouldn't mind seeing the Brewers cut ties with at this point.
> Minor moves:
Pirates: Signed Russell Martin to a two-year deal.
Rays: Signed Mike Fontenot to a minor league deal.
Royals: Outrighted Chris Volstad and Brayan Pena, both of whom elected free agency; re-signed Felipe Paulino to a one-year deal.
Rangers: Signed Collin Balester and Yangervis Solarte to minor league deals.
Padres: Signed Travis Buck, Eddy Rodriguez, and Daniel Stange to minor league deals.
Athletics: Signed Scott Moore to a minor league deal.
Yankees: Re-signed Mariano Rivera to a one-year deal.
Nationals: Acquired Denard Span from the Twins.
Twins: Acquired Alex Meyer from the Nationals.
Indians: Re-signed Blake Wood to a one-year deal.


text:
New York Film Festival 2018 (Sept. 28-Oct. 14). Opening, Centerpiece, closing night films.
Opening Night: Yourgos Lanthimos: The Favourite
Yourgos Lanthimos The Favourite
New York, NY (July 23, 2018) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Yorgos Lanthimos's The Favourite as Opening Night of the 56th New York Film Festival (September 28 – October 14), making its New York premiere at Alice Tully Hall on Friday, September 28, 2018. The Favourite is a Fox Searchlight Pictures release and opens November 23, 2018.
In Yorgos Lanthimos's wildly intricate and very darkly funny new film, Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz), and her servant Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) engage in a sexually charged fight to the death for the body and soul of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) at the height of the War of the Spanish Succession. This trio of truly brilliant performances is the dynamo that powers Lanthimos's top-to-bottom reimagining of the costume epic, in which the visual pageantry of court life in 18th-century England becomes not just a lushly appointed backdrop but an ironically heightened counterpoint to the primal conflict unreeling behind closed doors.
New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said, "The Favourite is a lot of things at once, each of them perfectly meshed: a historical epic; a visual feast; a wild, wild ride; a formidable display of the art of acting from Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman, abetted by a brilliant cast; a tour de force from Yorgos Lanthimos. And… it's a blast. We're very excited to have it as our opening night film."
Centerpiece: Alfonso Cuarón's ROMA
The Academy Award-winning director's vibrant, epic drama makes its New York Premiere as the official Centerpiece selection. In Cuarón's autobiographically inspired film, set in Mexico City in the early '70s, we are placed within the physical and emotional terrain of a middle-class family whose center is quietly and unassumingly held by its beloved live-in nanny and housekeeper. Netflix will distribute the film.


text:
N° 54–2003: ESA Director General comments on Columbia Accident Investigation Board report
28 August 2003
Commenting on the Columbia accident report delivered to NASA by the independent Investigation Board, Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency, said:
"The loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew on 1 February has deeply affected the space community worldwide. Despite the heavy toll taken by this accident, we maintain our commitment to share space exploration with our International Space Station partners and contribute to future crewed missions.
The European Space Agency acknowledges the outstanding work done by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and all who contributed to a report of exceptional quality making sound recommendations.
ESA will work shoulder to shoulder with NASA and its international partners to ensure that ISS operations continue at the highest level of safety".
"Meanwhile, in anticipation of a safe return of the Shuttle fleet to human space flight, the ESA astronaut corps is carrying on with training and other assignments in preparation for the upcoming flights by ESA astronauts Pedro Duque and André Kuipers to the ISS on Russian Soyuz launches in October 2003 and April 2004 and later in 2004 by ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang on a US Space Shuttle ", added Jörg Feustel-Büechl, ESA Director of Human Space Flight.
For further information, please contact :
Franco Bonacina
Spokesman/ Head of Media Relations Service
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: + 33 1 5369 71 55
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)126.96.36.19955
Fax: +33(0)18.104.22.16890


text:
bedroom lately
Some more images of our bedroom. I've already rearranged a few things since but so far I like this room much better with the dresser rather than our desk. Also, the little bit of wood makes it feel warm and cozy. I come in here to work sometimes, but then I'm only tempted to take a nap. Probably not a good place to get any work done!
Other Stories
21 comments:
What a fab bedroom you have! I spy so many of my favourite Scandinavian design pieces such as the cross blanket and string shelves. I really love your 'Think outside of the box' print too - so interesting and clever. have a lovely Sunday!ReplyDelete
like like like :)))ReplyDelete
I love your art! May I ask where that 'think outside the box' one is from? You have such gorgeous taste! xxReplyDelete
Kate {Modette}
Wonderful !!! I'm in huge love ! ;)ReplyDelete
i love all the geometric shapes, especially the blanket! it really looks superb! :)ReplyDelete
i adore your sweet space. hey, i spy sandra juto. :)ReplyDelete
Where is that Andy Warhol poster from?
My 6 year old LOVES him.
They are learning about him in school, how cool is that?!
I'd love to get it for her for Christmas..
I love this space, so minimal. I try and try to pare down what's in my bedroom but to no avail. Is this really how much stuff (and clothing) you have to fit in this space? My husband and I had 2 chests of drawers and 2 wardrobes between us! We've managed to get one big wardrobe and rid of the 2 chests and 1 wardrobe. But not rid of the belongings! Even an interstate move didn't get rid of much.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 17, 2012
very nice!ReplyDelete
- HeddieSeptember 17, 2012
Hi! Lovely blog :) Where is the black skull from? I have been looking everywhere...ReplyDelete
Kindly Heddie
Amazing! great way of style.ReplyDelete
hi! Where did you find that blanket?I'm searching it like mad...ReplyDelete
nice blog, I love your style:)
greetings from Italy
I love this room design. The black and white with bits of brown looks awesome together. Also, I'm obsessed with that "Think Outside the Box" print. So clever!ReplyDelete
Love the space! Where did you get the cross blanket? xoReplyDelete
- KristineSeptember 29, 2012
That lamp on the wall were is that from? I just love it!ReplyDelete
- KristineOctober 01, 2012
Your bedroom is FAB!! Simply!ReplyDelete
Where is that black light chain from hanging on your wall?
I wish I knew where this shelf was from! It is really perfect.ReplyDelete
where are the Wall Shelves from. Ive seen them on your blog a few times and its exactly what I'm looking for.ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


text:
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
For some people it might be easier to follow me on face book,v or twitter. I update them on finished works. Normally. If thats easier option for you.
Become a friend.
or add the group Irene's blog
link above.
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth."
- Mark Twain -


text:
We'd love to hear feedback on ease of use and image quality.
High quality, limited edition rock photography, hand printed on the finest paper available. Rock, indie, and country western musicians captured in concert by professional photographers from across the U.S. Stunning images of rock and roll, country, and hall of fame members, available only from the Songbird Fine Art Gallery. Unique, limited, classic, and original in-concert fine art prints.


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - One Way Ticket Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in One Way Ticket Goto page 1, 2 Next Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message tuna007azJoined: 17 Mar 2005Posts: 12 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:46 am Post subject: One Way Ticket So basically Im leaving in a few hours so I would to see a reply or two before i get on the plane I have a visa andI bookewd a one way ticket to Taiwan . My recruiter form reach to teach said I wouldnt have a problem Im just making sure I wont have any difficult gettin into the country with a one way ticket? Thoughts????? Back to top markholmesJoined: 21 Jun 2004Posts: 661Location: Wengehua Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:16 am Post subject: You won't have any trouble getting into the country, but you might have trouble with the airline. They law is you need an onward ticket. Although this is widely ignored by immigration in Taiwan some airlines will refuse to check you in because technically you are in violation of Taiwanese law. If you manage to get a boarding pass you are good to go. If they won't check you in you may have to buy an onward ticket from Taipei to Hong Kong or Bangkok or somewhere else. Good luck, let us know how it goes. Back to top BJJoined: 03 Dec 2003Posts: 173 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:11 am Post subject: Imigration can also refuse entry with no onward ticket, as you point out it is Taiwanese Law. Most countries, these days, are looking for evidence of a way in which you can leave their country. I am suprised the travel agents allowed you to buy a one way, as they are normally the ones who enforce the onward ticket so as not to be in violation of the law. Back to top hunter21Joined: 08 Jan 2008Posts: 8 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: Bit late now, but I've read you can try getting a reservation for any stand-by tickets as evidence of moving onwards. If that doesn't work then you can just buy a cheap ticket to HK or wherever at the airport. I'm no expert though. Back to top BigWallyJoined: 07 Jun 2006Posts: 765Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South") Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject: More likely than not, it will be the airline that will refuse a one way ticket, since they will be ones who will have to foot the bill if you show up in Taiwan and get rejected. Immigration in Taiwan is very hit and miss. When I arrived (with my one way ticket) they just waved us through, didn't even ask a single question. Even though I had a "fake" itinerary showing a return ticket to Canada just in case. I've also heard of people getting off the plane, being grilled by immigration, having their bags searched, and then being rejected entry and sent back to the nearest stop, which is some cases is Hong Kong or Tokyo. Either way, good luck with your new adventure. Back to top hunter21Joined: 08 Jan 2008Posts: 8 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: So, tuna007az, if you stop by this thread, how did things go? Did you have to buy a ticket outta there or what? Back to top xuyunJoined: 28 Feb 2007Posts: 8 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:38 am Post subject: I just went through this on my way to Taiwan from the States, flying United Airlines on a one-way. They refused to give me a boarding pass without a return ticket. Fortunately I had booked a round trip ticket to Hong Kong, so I just had to find a place to print out my receipt for the ticket in the airport. Plus my receipt was from a Taiwanese company, all in Chinese, so it was funny explaining which part was the flight number to the ticket clerk. So word of warning when your employer offers only to pay for a one-way ticket... Back to top TaoyuanSteveJoined: 05 Feb 2003Posts: 1028Location: Taoyuan Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:58 am Post subject: I've written on this before. I've found the best way to go, having come and gone a few times from this place, is to get what's called an open ended return ticket from city of origin. Basically it's a ticket with a return portion that can be rescheduled for anytime up to a year from purchase. When you purchase your ticket, you can select a provisional return date and simply cancel it upon arrival here. You then have an open ticket to return home on, date of your choosing, valid for a year. It's not much good if you don't take a trip home in a year, however, the cost of this option is often preferable to purchasing an onward ticket. Back to top dangerousappleJoined: 18 Apr 2006Posts: 292 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:03 am Post subject: That's what I did years ago when I came here. An open-end ticket is the only way to go. Back to top cspitzigJoined: 01 Nov 2007Posts: 56 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:44 am Post subject: What is the cheapest option if you don't plan to return within a year? I'm about to go to Taiwan for the first time(new to TEFL, also). I'm hoping I like TEFL. If I do, I want to be there at LEAST two years, coming back after the second year. I plan to visit family before leaving. So, a round trip ticket would just cost me about an extra $300(that's not even looking at making it open ended). Back to top 773Joined: 29 May 2005Posts: 213 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: You can buy certain onward tickets that can be refunded 100% if not used. These usually cost much more than nonrefundable or partially refundable tickets, but like I say, they are fully refundable so if you have the available cash to shell out, do it and then get your refund. Back to top TaoyuanSteveJoined: 05 Feb 2003Posts: 1028Location: Taoyuan Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: I recall that my former gf was, on one occasion, able to refund an unused return portion of a round trip ticket. It was either with China airlines or EVA. You may want to enquire with your agent about this possibility. Back to top SanChongJoined: 22 Nov 2005Posts: 335 Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: Generally, a one way ticket is OK. However, there is the possibility that it won't be good enough. It's a tough choice because if you buy a round trip ticket, it generally goes unused (for most people anyway). That's obviously a big waste of money. My recommendation would be to get a one way ticket. Worse case scenario: When you get to the airport, they make you buy a one way ticket out of Taiwan. Buy a refundable ticket, which generally costs $50-$100 to cash in. This way, no matter what you should come out better off than if you just bought a round trip ticket to begin with. Back to top Modest MouseJoined: 09 Jun 2008Posts: 28Location: Taiwan Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:03 am Post subject: I recently flew from Bangkok to Taipei on a one-way ticket and I didn't have to show proof of an onward ticket. Although I had a fake itinerary I got from the travel agent in Bangkok. In fact, I didn't even have to ask for the fake onward itinerary, they simply gave it to me. Back to top KinaJoined: 10 Jul 2008Posts: 4Location: Ottawa, Canada Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: I'm currently in the same situation (Hi by the way, total newbie, studied the forum thoroughly before posting anything that's been asked before) We decided (myself and 2 girlfriends) to book our flight to Taiwan on impulse because we found one way flights from Montreal to Taiwan for 875$ CND all taxes included... Now we're wondering if we may have made a bad move. We have friends currently in Taiwan, so they are talking about "inviting us" into the country so that we get a 90 day visitor's visa. Would that be enough to get us through the airline? Really my question is... Should we... Wing it, hope for the best? Worst case scenario, buy a round trip refundable ticket out of the island at the airport after they've denied us entry? Also, where can you get those fake itineraries? We booked online, so that was not offered to us. You can PM me the answers if you would like. THANK YOU! Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Taiwan All times are GMTGoto page 1, 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


text:
SOUTH BERWICK -- The Geo Quiz champions from Bondgarden Farms of Eliot were at last unseated as the Berwick Academy team moved in to take the gold in the South Berwick-Eliot Rotary's 6th annual Community Geo Quiz, which raised more than $8,500 for a school in northern Haiti last weekend.
Bondgarden Farms, which has won the last three Geo Quizes, was edged out by the Berwick Academics, led by high school history teacher Chris Onken, all in fun and to benefit the small school in northern Haiti.
The money raised Friday night, at an event that drew more than 200 people to the Great Works School, came from local businesses and individuals who sponsored the quiz teams for at least $150. Some donated as much as $1,100 to support a team.
"There was an incredible amount of support for this project and the quiz as a whole," said Bonnie Peterman, international director of the South Berwick-Eliot Rotary who helped organize the event. "The game was as fun as the cause was important."
The Moloney family of South Berwick began running these Rotary quizzes as a way to help make a difference in the world. Mike Moloney, a York Rotarian acts as emcee and came up with the questions. Cindy Moloney, school librarian, put together the teams. Annie Moloney, a sophomore in high school, was on a runner-up team. And Catie Moloney helped with map questions and audience participation.
"This year more than ever, the quiz teams were especially enthusiastic about the game and about geography," said Cindy Moloney, who also played on a team. "We just had the kind of energy that engaged the whole room, It made it more fun and in the end, I think, more profitable."
The funds raised in this geo quiz will help the Eben Ezer School in Milot, Haiti, pay for carpentry, painting and sewing supplies, and will pay to send a container to Haiti with solar panels and a generator. All of these items are part of a vocational program that will help the school be more self-sufficient.
The Eben Ezer School has grown from 30 to 300 children and from two to 12 classrooms since 2007, when southern Maine got involved. Families, students, churches and Rotary clubs in southern Maine have sponsored children, made trips to Milot, contributed books and sent down generators.
The Haitian American founder of the Eben Ezer School, Lucia Anglade of Long Island, NY, was at the quiz, making her fifth trip to Maine to thank the community. Anglade, who was born and raised in Milot, built the school on her family's land on the site of her childhood home.
A new bank account at Kennebunk Savings Bank will accept donations to Life and Hope targeted to this project. Eventually, Life and Hope plans to build a training center and guest house that will provide jobs and an income for the school community, reducing its dependence on donations.
More information on Life and Hope, which runs the Eben Ezer School, is available at the web site: lifeandhopehaiti.org


text:
Police officials say the drone is far from being air-ready, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and the creation of policies governing its use.
San Jose police say what is believed to be the Bay Area's first police drone will only be used for bomb cases. Critics fear it's the first step toward streamlined spying on residents and gathering information without a warrant.
The $7,000 drone purchased earlier this year looks like a homemade contraption, and it comes with a mount for a standard Go-Pro video camera. Police officials say the drone is far from being air-ready, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and the creation of policies governing its use, which police contend will be for only one purpose.
"Speaking today, our intent is to use it for bomb purposes and bomb purposes only," police spokesman Officer Albert Morales said.
But civil liberties groups are sounding the alarm about the drone. They have long challenged the adoption of drones by law enforcement, citing fears of warrantless intelligence-gathering and surveillance. Prior attempts to get drones by Bay Area police agencies, including San Francisco police and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, were spurned by political pushback centered on those privacy concerns.
"They may say now it's for bomb detection, but tomorrow they may decide to surveil communities of color or watch over a political protest," said Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties policy director for ACLU California. "With the revelations of NSA spying the last couple of years and growing community understanding of how surveillance can be misused, the public is no longer willing to accept the 'Just trust us' approach."
Ozer was among several critics decrying the lack of a usage policy for the drones and how its funding was sought by police and subsequently approved by the San Jose City Council in November with little to no public disclosure or discussion. The drone was purchased in January, and its existence surfaced in July only after exhaustive records requests by public records watchdog MuckRock and Vice. Morales contends the department's records response was slowed by bureaucratic hiccups and not any intent to conceal information.
Opponents also note that the drone, funded by the federal preparedness-oriented Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative, backed by the Department of Homeland Security, could be available to other local police via mutual-aid agreements, widening its potential surveillance footprint.
"There is something fundamentally different about a drone," said Jeremy Gillula, a staff technologist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation who has a Ph.D. in robotics. "It's cheaper than a helicopter and doesn't take an expert pilot. The affordability and ease of use means it could be used to perpetually surveil people. You should have to get a warrant first, and we don't think that's unreasonable."
Morales said the department is aware of the controversy surrounding the use of drones by the government and said Police Chief Larry Esquivel has ordered the department to create policies outlining the circumstances when the drone can be deployed, which he said will be presented to the public, including organizations like the ACLU, for feedback.
"We understand how sensitive this topic is, and how the machinery could be utilized for other means," Morales said. "We still need to get FAA approval, and ensure bomb technicians are properly trained."
He added: "When we get a piece of technology that can help us do our job more effectively and maintain safety, we owe it to our community to go and do that. It's merely another tool for law enforcement and in this case bomb callouts to keep officers and the public out of harm's way."
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, the county's other comparably sized police agency to San Jose, said it will remain on the sidelines on the drone issue.
"We know there has been movement in law enforcement toward this, but at this time we don't have any or have plans to acquire a drone," Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup said.
Part of that may be driven by a desire to avoid the kind of controversy that SJPD finds itself in, with one local law enforcement official, speaking confidentially, saying "the public perception is terrible right now. It makes a lot of sense as a tool, but right now it's not worth the headache."
The multi-rotor drone in question -- a Century Neo 660 V2 made by San Jose-based Century Helicopter Products -- conjures images far different from those of the sleek, unmanned Predators used to destroy military targets: The 2-foot-wide product can support a GoPro video camera and accompanying transmitter and is on the "hobby" end of such Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). In a grant proposal, police Sgt. Douglas Wedge wrote that it "will provide the capability to inspect suspicious packages in areas with limited accessibility or in a confined space" like "stairways and hallways" that existing bomb robots cannot access.
That application might be optimistic given the maneuverability of such devices, said Dennis Kenney, a professor at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an expert in police-training procedures.
"The practicality is problematic. These things are not easy to fly, and flying them inside buildings, they might end up upside down more often than not," Kenney said.
He did note that UAV's overall could greatly bolster police capabilities, particularly in supplanting the roles of helicopters that are notoriously expensive to maintain. But he agreed with civil liberties groups about the importance of incorporating public input for such a move.
"Certainly the civil liberty concerns are real," he said. "The solution is not to eliminate the technology but to propose the adoption of drones for specific reasons, and propose policies and have the city enact ordinances to limit its use to those circumstances."
©2014 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)
Looking for the latest gov tech news as it happens? Subscribe to GT newsletters.


text:
A friend recently sent me this recipe for 3,2,1 Cake. It sounds strange, I know, but it's a very easy way to make a quick and tasty dessert for one or two people with minimal fuss. I made this for dessert tonight and I know you'll like and appreciate this as much as hubby and I do!
- First, buy an angel food cake mix and any other flavor cake mix (I chose Devil's Food).
- Pour the dry mixes into a large plastic storage bag.
- Seal the bag tightly, then massage the mixes so that they completely combine within the bag.
- Now you're ready to make dessert!
3,2,1 CakeRecipe makes 1 serving 3 tablespoons of combined cake mixes 2 tablespoons of water
Place 3 tablespoons of the combined cake mixes in a small microwaveable bowl or ramekin. Mix in the 2 tablespoons of water, stirring until well combined.
Microwave it on high for 1 minute.
Take care when removing the dish from the microwave as it will be hot! Let it cool a bit and eat it just as it is or top it with whipped cream, whipped topping or some frosting.
You can also find a printable version of this recipe here.


text:
Characters Graffiti Street Art
About the Author
I'm Hung Duy, the founder of Xml Blogger Templates (XBT). I'm a freelance writer on topics related to Website Optimization (SEO), blogger customizations and making money online. I'm blogging since 2006 and I'm currently a guest blogger on Blogging With Success.
Follow Me on Twitter or On Facebook
Visit xmlbloggertemplates.com for more Blogger Templates
Follow Me on Twitter or On Facebook


text:
Mr. Speaker, Canada is deeply worried by the humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We strongly condemn the occupation of territory by the M23 rebel group.
We are extremely concerned by the displacement of almost 650,000 civilians since the beginning of the year due to confrontations between armed groups and the military, and by the grave human rights abuses committed by these groups, including systematic and widespread rape and summary executions.
Canada has contributed up to $41.9 million since 2011 to help meet humanitarian needs in the DRC, including $3.75 million since October in response to the worsening conflict. As per the decision made by the regional leaders, M23 troops must complete their withdrawal from Goma. We call on all support to M23 to cease immediately.
Canada continues to call for an end to the violence and for all parties to respect human rights and the protection of civilians.


text:
Baby and Child First Aid Training - Premium Course (St Vincent's Private Patients Only)
PLEASE NOTE: This course is only open to St Vincent's Private Hospital patients - if you do not have your discount code from the hospital, please email firstname.lastname@example.com, including the course date, name of your obstetrician at SVPH and how many tickets you would like.
Saturday 22 February, 2020 from 9.00am to 12.15pm
Attend our parent first aid course to learn how to recognise when your child is sick or injured and how to respond confidently and effectively. This course is specifically designed for parents, grandparents and babysitters as it focuses on at home emergencies specific to babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. This course will be conducted by either an experienced Ambulance Paramedic or Paediatric Nurse.
Ancilliary Services Building @ St Vincent's Private Hospital
75 Victoria Parade
Fitzroy, Victoria 3065
Course Fees
$80 / 1 person - $150 / 2 people
If you would like to enrol in this course but do not have access to a credit card please email email@example.com and details for a bank transfer payment will be provided. Please note that to confirm your place payment is required at least 7 days prior to the course date.
Course Topics
|1. CPR - Baby & Child
|2. Drowning
|3. Choking
|4. Seizures & Febrile Convulsions
|5. Signs of Significant Illness
|6. Pain
|7. Fever & Dehydration
|8. Breathing Infections
|9. Allergies (including Anaphylaxis)
|10. Head Injuries
|11. Burns
|12. Poisoning (including bites & stings)
Family First Aid Kit $70
Pre-order with your course booking or purchase at the course.
|Kids Gel Cold Pack (1) & Instant Ice Pack (1)
|Burn Gel Tube (1)
|Antiseptic/Anti-Itch Spary (1)
|Kids Plasters (1pk of 20) & Adult Plasters (8)
|Saline (5) & Non-Alcohol Wound Wipe (6)
|Crepe Bandage (2) & Conforming Bandage (2)
|Chuckie's Travel Sickness Bags (1pk of 4)
|Butterfly Strips (12)
|Gloves (1 pair) & CPR Face Shield (1)
|Scissors (1) & Splinter Probe (5)
|Tape (1) & Product Instruction Card (1)
|Triangular Bandage (1) & Eye Pad (2)
|Combine Pad (2) & Island Dressing (4)
|Non-Adherent Dressing Pad (6) & Gauze (2)
1. Can I bring my baby to the course?
We understand that when they are young it is sometimes difficult to find alternate care and that you may need to breastfeed during the course so you can certainly bring your baby with you and you can breastfeed in the class if needed. However, if alternate care can be sourced we always recommend coming to the course baby-free as we know you will be able to engage in the class much easier and get the most of it.
2. Do I receive a certificate for attending the course?
We can provide you with an electronic statement of attendance following the course upon your request. However, this is not a standard issue as the certificate will not be a workplace accredited certificate as there is no workplace accredited course that is specific for only infant and child related emergencies.
Please note that the standard workplace accredited certificate required by employees is HLTAID003 Provide First Aid which requires approximately 6 hours of class time and an additional 2-3 hours of pre-course online learning. We do conduct all available workplace training for private groups upon request.
3. Cancellation Policy
If are unable to attend the course you are booked into please email (click here).
If notice is provided:
3a. At least 7 days prior to the course date a full refund will be provided (minus booking fee $0.50/ticket) or an alternate course date will be offered.
3b. At least 24 hours from the course start time and up to 7 days prior to the course an alternate course date will be offered.
3c. Less than 24 hours from the course start time then it will be upon the discretion of the Manager as to whether an alternate course date will be provided, and if so, which date/s will be offered as an option.
When an alternate course date is booked for points 3b and 3c above and a cancellation request is received again with less than 3 days notice from the course date then no further rebooking or refund will be provided.
This event is currently closed and no contact details are available


text:
Zircon (#13) main content.
Now open! Reserve tickets today, and read more about health and safety.
Part of Hall of Minerals.
This specimen is an example of a placer mineral that formed in a sedimentary environment.
Sedimentary: Placer Minerals
Minerals, especially those heavier than average, may be mechanically separated and concentrated as they are moved from one place to another by flowing water or wind. A concentrated surface deposit of such minerals, known as a placer deposit, forms in two successive stages.
In the first stage, weathering frees the minerals from the original rock material. In the second stage, the minerals are mechanically carried, separated by gravitation and concentrated elsewhere, usually along a streambed or on a beach. Concentration into a placer deposit can occur only if the minerals are heavy (i.e., possess a high specific gravity), are chemically resistant to weathering and durable.
Placer deposits such as those displayed here commonly consist of gold, platinum, cassiterite, magnetite, chromite, zircon, and gemstones — ruby, sapphire, and garnet, for example.
Zircon ZrSiO4
Hybla, Ontario, Canada


text:
(The Root) — We've already got a list of questions that we're dying to have answered in the coming season of Scandal, and, well, we just can't wait for the premiere to satiate our curiosity. I sit down with the people at the center of the all drama — Olivia, Harrison, Abby, Huck and Quinn — to get the scoop straight from the horses' mouths.
I am led to a familiar place — the long, wooden desk in the middle of the Olivia Pope and Associates office. One at a time, the Gladiators file in and sit across from me as the others line up behind the plate glass wall, arms crossed, staring at me without blinking. First up is Miss White Hat herself, Olivia Pope.
The Root: Hi, Ms. Pope. Thanks for speaking with me.
Olivia Pope: Not a problem. We just have to make this quick; I've got a Cambodian diplomat accused of smuggling bald eagles out of the country in teddy bears.
TR: How do you even get an eagle inside a teddy bear?
OP: Is that your one question? Because you do understand that you only get one question, right?
TR: No, sorry. Here's my question: Are you crazy?
OP: Excuse me? Am I crazy? That's actually your question? Let me answer your question with a question: Is it crazy to expect the biggest and the best and the fullest that life has to offer? Is it crazy to stop and think for just one second, after risking everything I have to make sure that other people have everything they need, that maybe, just maybe, I deserve a thing or two, too? Is it crazy to look at a forever filled with contentment and have the nerve to visualize my face there in the background? Is it crazy to expect that a black woman can just walk into the White House, unseat the first lady, marry her husband and not throw the nation into complete and total chaos or have her life ruined by people hell-bent on stopping her?
If so, then yes. I am crazy. I am absolutely, completely crazy, and it's a wonder that I am capable of making grounded decisions for anyone else. Good day.
[With a gentle quiver of her lip, Ms. Pope springs from her chair and walks quickly — very, very quickly as people in this office are wont to do — out of the room and out of the office. Next up is Harrison Wright, Olivia's unquestioning devotee.]
TR: Hello, Mr. Wright.
Harrison Wright: Let's make this quick. Every second that I am in here, the nation inches a little closer to implosion.
TR: Right. So, you are unwaveringly faithful to Olivia. What's your connection, your history with her?
HW: There are blue pipes and steeples in this world —
TR: I'm sorry, you're going to have to speak a little slower, please.
HW: I said there are two types of people in this world: those who are bold enough to call attention to themselves, and those who are smart enough to live in the shadows. When Olivia found me, I was nothing, a young punk running the streets in a pair of Dockers and a T-shirt. I was street-smart, but common, no ambition.
While walking through a dark alley one night, Liv's voice called out to me, asking if I wanted more, asking if I was tired of being alive but not living. I followed her right then and there to the nearest Men's Wearhouse and emerged with a new suit and a new sense of myself. And now look at me. Who do you know who can pair a green-and-fuschia polka-dot shirt with a blue-and-white Chevron-print bow tie? Liv saved my life in that alley. I owe her everything.
[With a dramatic huff, he stands, straightens his tie and exits, signaling for Huck to take his place. Huck looks me in the eye for awhile, but soon it seems that the isn't looking at me, but through me.]
TR: Hello, Huck.
Huck: You look like someone.
TR: I'm sorry? Huck? Hello?
H: Ask your question.
TR: OK. You seem to be having some changes in your interest or ability to do the job you've been doing. Where do you see yourself in five years?
H: Have you ever felt a human spleen?
H: It kind of feels like a big tea bag that's been soaked in syrup. I've felt a total of 63 spleens in my life. Sixty-three syrupy tea bags in the palm of my hand. Sixty-three. Sixty-three. Sixty-three.
TR: Huck? Huck, are you OK?
H: Sixty-three. Sixty-three. Sixty-three. Sixty-three. Sixty-three.
[Quinn walks quickly into the room and, putting her hand on Huck's arm, gets him on his feet and leads him out of the room. She returns and sits opposite me and speaks before I can open my mouth.]
Quinn Perkins: Hi! I'm Quinn, and I'd be happy to answer the question you just asked Huck, about where he'll be in five years. Well, obviously I'm not a fortune-teller so I can't tell you exactly where he will be, but I can tell you where he won't be, and that's right here, in this office. He's weak, Huck is. The years have worn on him; his feelings are outgrowing the tools in his torture kit, and that's not good for business.
I love Huck like a brother, and my job is to protect him, and if that means adopting his sociopathic bloodlust, then I don't really have a choice, do I? I mean, I don't want to strap grown men down and take away all their power and control, rendering them slaves to the will of my drills and knives and syringes full of things you only read about in your chemistry book, but someone has to do it. And if Huck can't do it, then what choice do I have? It's unpleasant, really it is. Just dreadful.
[She stands and walks to the door, pausing to turn, look back and tell me with a wink that her goal for this year is "107 syrupy tea bags." Last but not least to enter to room and take a seat is Abby Whelan.]
TR: Hi, Abby! My question for you: Are you and David Rosen ever going to get back together?
Abby Whelan: No! Well, yeah, probably.
So there you have it. Olivia's crazy, Huck's crazy, Quinn is definitely crazy, Harrison is crazy for fashion and Abby is apparently the sanest of them all.
Tracy Clayton is a writer, humorist and blogger from Louisville, Ky.
Tracy Clayton is a writer, humorist and blogger from Louisville, Ky.


text:
NEWTOWN, Conn. – In the wake of the Sandy Hook elementary school tragedy, people from across the country are looking for ways to help victims and their families.
The USPS has set up a P.O. Box just for condolence letters. The address is:
Message of Condolence
PO Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470
Another way to help is to donate. Various organizations have created accounts to help, including the Newtown Memorial Fund and the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.
Many families have also set up individual memorial funds in the name of their loved one.
One Newtown native is selling "I Love Newtown" t-shirts to help. Anyone can purchase the shirts for $25 dollars online.


text:
Hi friends:
I am wrapping up OpenVG provided path fuctions to implement a generic Path Class which supports funtions like beginPath,closePath, moveTo, lineTo , arcTo, arc, bezierTo.. etc. most of the memeber functions share the same prototypes as defined in the html5.0 canvas protocol.
For some of them ,i only need to use vgAppendToPath to append the new segments and coordinates to the existing vgPath . but sometimes , i have to use the information of the pointes already in the path with the newly added coordinates to make some calculations., for eg. arcTo.
are there any cool ways to get points information from a vgPath handle which can achieve some similar effects like getLastPoint, getPointArray, getSegmentArray?
if not ,the only way i can do seems to be maintaining one or two arrays by myself. however,problem is the newly added points' coordinates can probably be changed by vgTransformpath, then i should synchronously transform the maintained points array by myself too. its really awkward and ineffective.
thanks for your suggestions .^_^


text:
I was on a solo breakaway suicide mission and didn't care. I was maybe 2 minutes off the front of a twelve man chase group on the final day of our 2010 Monster Climbs trip to the high Sierras. There was really no reason for me to be out front, I was having a terrible weekend fitness-wise.
Friday's ride up Onion Valley Road was fun and uneventful. Climbing 5,000 feet up the 5th best road climb in the US was very enjoyable. I pootled up alongside my friend MickeyGow, saving myself for Saturday's Queen Stage.
The wheels came off the bus on Saturday's ride to Pine Creek. I started out feeling average, but instead of getting better as I warmed up, things got steadily worse until I was struggling to produce power going less than 5mph at around 45rpm. It was clear that I had fallen off the Razors Edge.
The Razor's Edge is that narrow range of fitness where you are working hard enough to keep improving, but not so hard that you get overtired. I was obviously overtired and the more I pedaled, the deeper I dug myself. I bailed on the big climb for the day up Rock Creek (20 miles and 7,000ft) for some quiet poolside rest.
And that's how I found myself just a little fresher than everyone else at the start of the final day, climbing 19 miles to Lake Sabrina. I knew they'd catch me; it was just a matter of time. Looking at my power meter it was clear I wasn't producing much more power than the day before, the Descenders peloton was simply taking their time to reel me back in.
Ahead I saw a rider, pootling even slower than me. From a distance he looked very fit with good form, just moving very slowly. As I got closer, I could see his kit was Italian – meaning he was either authentically Italian or just a Wanna-be Guido. Then he stopped in the middle of the road and took a piss. Not in the bushes, or even on the gravel in the shoulder, but right there on the tarmac in the middle of the road. This convinced me he was truly Italian and probably from the southern end of that amazing country.
Passing the rider, I said "Buon giorno" and received an undecipherable reply. Looking at his face for the first time I realized who the rider must be. It was none other than Ivan Basso himself, probably on a recovery ride after winning the Giro d'Italia last month! I had just passed (neh, dropped!) one of the most legendary cyclists of our time! The only man to ever challenge Lance Armstrong in the high mountains. Basso was going off the back, unable to maintain my relentless pace.
Don't you love it how cycling uphill at high elevation makes you a bit batty in the head?
I continued on enjoying the beautiful scenery, watching pine trees replace the chapparel as I steadily made my way upward. I was caught by my team at some point and summarily dropped. Ivan was in the group chatting amicably with a few of my teammates. I supposed they were congratulating him on his Giro win and speculating his chances for beating Contador at le Tour next month.
A little later, my friend MickeyGow caught me up and together we rode the last four miles to Lake Sabrina. It was truly a great afternoon cycling among some of the most beautiful country California has to offer.


text:
August 2012 Sake TastingsThursday, August 2nd, 2012
The proverbial "dog days of summer" have arrived and with them some delicious seasonal produce to enjoy (fresh corn and tomatoes come immediately to mind). Our line up of tastings this month feature sake that are ably suited to pair with them and/or to refresh the palate and quench the thirst on sultry evenings.
We look forward to seeing you at one or all!
Rick & Hiroko
Thursday, August 2, 2012, 6-8pm
Zaku Junmai Tasting
Thursday, August 9, 2012, 6-8pm
Yuki no Bosha Junmai Ginjo Tasting
Saturday, August 18, 2012, 5-7pm
Tatenokawa 33 Junmai Daiginjo Tasting
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 5-7pm
Goriki Junmai Ginjo Tasting
Thursday, August 30, 2012, 6-8pm
Kudoki Jozu Junmai Ginjo Tasting


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
For years, diet-book authors, weight loss gurus, and talk-show hosts have proposed a dizzying array of methods for shedding pounds.
There are juice fasts, raw-food programs, and hypnosis techniques; you can eat like a Frenchwoman, a caveman, or Jesus; and according to one recent book, you can even binge one day and fast the next ("Diet only half the time!"). So much for the common sense approach.
Tired of the hype, we turned to six diet experts for the real scoop. These anti-gurus have spent their careers studying what leads to real weight loss. Taking advice from experts who shun the limelight for the lab? That's a fad we can get behind.
James O. Hill has studied successful dieters for 13 years to see how people lose weight — and keep it off. He is the director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
What's the biggest thing you've learned from successful dieters?
Weight loss happens in two stages that require two different approaches. First, there's the losing stage. That's all about food restriction. There's no particular diet that seems to be more effective than another one; it has more to do with individual preference — what you can stick with long-term. The weight-loss stage lasts an average of three to six months. We use 10 percent as a reasonable first goal. After six months, if you get there, you're a success story. If you haven't lost all the weight you want to lose in that time, you're probably not going to do it. If you still have a lot of weight to lose at that point, it's best to take several months to maintain the weight you've shed, then try another six-month diet.
Does exercise help?
Exercise has many health and emotional benefits, but it doesn't make a huge difference when it comes to weight loss. You can restrict your food intake by 500 to 1,000 calories starting tomorrow, but you have to work out for a long time, or at a very high intensity, to burn as many calories.
What's the second stage?
Maintenance. And that's when exercise becomes much more important. By burning a few hundred extra calories a day, you can eat a little bit more, which makes the diet tolerable and easier to maintain. Exercise helps you find a healthy balance between the calories you consume and the calories you burn. Successful dieters typically exercise a lot — 60 to 90 minutes a day. That's not just a short walk. They really prioritize daily, vigorous physical activity.
Are there other habits of successful dieters?
They tend to weigh themselves regularly to stay on track. The scale has been vilified, but it helps you stay focused. They also keep food diaries or count calories. And they are seven-day-a-week breakfast eaters. Eating a meal first thing in the day seems to help people manage hunger better. The typical pattern of obese people is to skip breakfast, have a light lunch, and eat a lot from late afternoon on.
Is there a point at which you're safe — when you'll keep off the weight you've lost?
After three years, you'll know whether you've settled into a routine that allows you to maintain the weight loss. By that point, most of the people in our study say they feel sure they're not going to regain the weight.
Ralph La Forge studies the role of exercise in weight loss and is managing director of the Lipid and Disease Management Preceptorship Program at Duke University Medical Center.
Why is it so hard to lose weight just by exercising?
Unless you're a serious athlete, you just don't burn that many calories. Most people overestimate the amount they've burned during a workout.
Don't miss these Health stories
More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
Rates of women who are opting for preventive mastectomies, such as Angeline Jolie, have increased by an estimated 50 percent in recent years, experts say. But many doctors are puzzled because the operation doesn't carry a 100 percent guarantee, it's major surgery -- and women have other options, from a once-a-day pill to careful monitoring.
- Larry Page's damaged vocal cords: Treatment comes with trade-offs
- Report questioning salt guidelines riles heart experts
- CDC: 2012 was deadliest year for West Nile in US
- What stresses moms most? Themselves, survey says
- More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
If exercise is part of your weight-loss plan, what's the best type to do?
Aerobic activity is far and away the best, for one simple reason: You burn more calories.
Doesn't strength training build muscle and therefore increase your resting metabolic rate?
That's actually a myth. You'd have to be totally ripped — like, bodybuilder ripped — to get a noticeable bump in your metabolism. Most people burn about one calorie per kilogram of body weight per minute, whereas a bodybuilder burns about 1.2.
What aerobic activities give you the biggest calorie burn?
Cross-country skiing — in nature, not on a machine — is the highest. Outdoor exercise is almost always more strenuous. You encounter variable terrain, which makes you work harder. Running comes after skiing, and walking on hills is probably third. In general, you burn more calories doing a weight-bearing activity that uses lots of big muscle groups. Swimming and biking usually aren't as good because they're not weight-bearing.
Are you better off doing a long, moderate-intensity workout or a shorter, high-intensity one?If you want to lose weight, stay at a moderate pace, because you can go longer and it doesn't wipe you out as much. When you do a high-intensity workout — running or cycling so hard that you can't carry on a conversation — you are so tired afterward that you tend to be lazier for the rest of the day. Instead of going shopping, you lie on the couch. People also tend to eat 20 percent to 25 percent more than normal because they're so hungry.
Don't you enter a fat-burning zone when you exercise at lower intensities? The idea of a fat-burning zone is b.s. In order to burn only fat, you would have to go at such a slow pace that you'd burn only two to three calories per minute. You'd have to walk 50 miles to get a decent workout. It's better to exercise at a moderate pace, so you'll burn some fat and some carbs. Doing that regularly can definitely help you control your weight.
Barry M. Popkin is the director of the University of North Carolina Interdisciplinary Obesity Program, and has studied the causes of the sharp rise in obesity around the world.
To lose weight, what's the single most important change you should make to your diet? Drink fewer caloric beverages. Over the past 30 years, Americans have added about 217 calories a day to their diets in fluids; we consume around one fifth of our calories from beverages.
The problem is that we don't tend to cut our food intake to compensate. People are consuming sports drinks and flavored water and thinking they're getting healthy, but all they're doing is getting fat.
Take vitamin-enhanced drinks: Many are essentially sugar water. You don't absorb most of the vitamins, and the ones you do absorb, like vitamin C, are plentiful in our diets anyway. You'd be a lot better off eating an orange.
Why don't caloric beverages satisfy our hunger the same way food does?
It's a legacy of evolution. Early humans didn't have sports drinks and juice. All they had was water. If they had filled up on water, they would have starved to death. So our bodies don't respond to liquid calories the same way they do to food.
Is fat really the demon it's been made out to be?
No. The diet industry got everyone to believe that the fat in our diets was making people gain weight, but it's extra calories, no matter what the source. You can lose weight with any diet — Atkins, South Beach, Ornish — as long as you control calories. People who eat a lot of fatty foods tend to weigh more because fat is more caloric, ounce for ounce, than lots of other foods. But that's a portion-control issue.
So big portions are also to blame?
You can't overeat and expect to lose weight, but it's the size of snacks, not meals, that has changed substantially over the past 20 years. We used to snack on celery sticks; now we snack on bags of chips. The calorie count in one of our snacks is the equivalent of a meal. We've moved from three meals a day to four and a half. Try eating fruit or vegetables with a little low-calorie dressing instead of salty, fatty snacks, and drink water instead of caloric beverages. You'll almost certainly lose weight just from these simple changes.
What's the final verdict on low-carb diets?
They might help some people lose weight, since people do tend to eat fewer calories on that kind of restrictive system. But it's almost impossible to maintain that way of eating over the long haul.
What are dieters' most common psychological pitfalls?
They try to do everything all at once — the extreme-makeover approach. It never works. People set impossible goals, and then they beat themselves up for not being able to sustain the effort. Then they say, "I'm weak-willed," and chuck it all.
So losing weight isn't just for people with a lot of self-control?
It's a fallacy that all it takes is willpower to reshape your body. If you can't learn to speak French in a month, it doesn't mean you're weak-willed; it means you've set an impossible goal. Weight loss does take effort, but as with any project, it also takes a plan. You can set yourself up for success.
For instance, if you always raid the refrigerator when you get home from work because you're starving, you need a plan to prevent that. Have a healthy snack before leaving work, then go out for a run as soon as you get home. And you should keep only healthy foods on hand. It's pretty basic, but so many people fail to take those simple steps — and, as a result, fail at dieting.
Are there psychological traits that distinguish successful dieters from people who lose and regain over and over? The successful ones monitor themselves and they develop solutions to common problems. They've identified what has made them fail before, and they've come up with a plan for dealing with those issues. They might go for a walk when they're stressed, for instance, so they don't turn to food. Their approach is practical and sustainable long-term.
What about the people who feel they are genetically destined to be overweight — can they change?
Biology certainly plays a role in body weight. It's impossible to say how much for each individual person, but it's very important. That said, how you live your life has an influence on your weight, too. If you choose to walk a lot and avoid big portions of high-calorie foods, you're not going to gain a lot of weight. The genetic component means that you have to be realistic about your goals. Sometimes people need to do what they can with weight loss, then let it go and accept the reality of their biology. For instance, weight in the hips and thighs is harder to lose than belly fat. Those fat cells aren't as metabolically active, which just means they're more resistant to change. As a result, a woman can lose weight and still be very curvy.
Louis J. Aronne researches how the body regulates weight and how hormones and other factors affect metabolism. He is director of the New York Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York–Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
What's the biggest misconception people have about dieting?
That you can be any weight you want. The average weight loss is 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. Weight is regulated by a complex set of systems in your body, and those are difficult to change. Every person's body is geared to be a certain weight, within a range of maybe 20 pounds or so. Usually the lowest weight you were as an adult is a good indication of your low point. Getting below that is very difficult, but with a healthy, low-calorie diet, you can stay in the low end of your range.
Why is it so easy to gain weight, but so difficult to lose it and maintain that loss?
As you lose body fat, levels of certain hormones, including leptin, drop. The signaling pathway that tells you you're satisfied doesn't work when leptin levels are too low. You don't feel full, which makes you eat more than you should. A drop in leptin also slows your metabolism, so someone who goes from 150 to 130 pounds will have a slower metabolism than someone who consistently weighs 130 pounds.
Besides body weight, does anything else affect leptin? Sleep deprivation can lower leptin levels and increase levels of ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating hormone that's produced in the stomach. That's one reason it's very hard to maintain a diet when you're sleep-deprived.
What about stress?
We're just starting to realize how much emotions affect weight. Stress prompts the body to release cortisol, which makes cells more resistant to insulin. You get excess insulin in the blood, which causes more calories to be stored as fat, especially in your abdomen, and that's associated with heart disease and diabetes.
Claude Bouchard studies identical twins. His work on genes shows why some people gain weight more easily than others. He is the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a research campus of the Louisiana State University System.
When it comes to your weight, how important is genetics?
Extremely important. Genes determine how quickly we feel full when we eat, how inclined we are to be physically active, and how much energy we expend at rest. And we have access to more food than ever before in history, along with fairly sedentary lifestyles. That's why prevention is key. The more weight you gain, the more body fat you have and the more your body hoards that fat. Even a 20-pound gain can change your biology.
Do genetics influence how much you want to exercise?
The Lance Armstrongs of the world may actually be programmed to move more than the average person. But motivation plays a role as well, as does environment. If your gym is close by, you're more likely to go.
Where do you think all this genetic research will lead?
The more we understand the biology of weight regulation, the better able we'll be to design drugs to target specific problems. Right now, the weight-loss drugs we have are like a hammer. They're not subtle or precise, and they have only modest effects. In the future, we should be able to create drugs that target the hormones that regulate appetite, satiety, and metabolism. There are dozens of companies working on such drugs, but it's not easy to find one that works. If it were easy, we'd have one already.
Copyright © 2012 CondéNet. All rights reserved.


text:
With the SPDR S&P Biotech Index up 20% over the trailing-12-month period, it's evident that investment dollars are willingly flowing into the biotech sector. Keeping that in mind, let's have a look at some of the rulings, studies, and companies that made waves in the sector last week.
If the biotech sector was to make a movie, I'd have suggested the title be "The Good, the Bad, and the Intriguing" following this week's action.
The good
Leading to the plus column was biotech cancer drug developer Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ONXX) which soared 57% on the week (nearly $50 a share!) after receiving a buyout bid from Amgen for what amounted to $120 a share. Onyx quickly rebuffed the offer price as too low but did note it was actively looking for strategic alternatives that would properly value Onyx and its pipeline. Earlier in the week I took a deeper dive into Onyx and pegged its fair value at $145 a share. Although I favor the potential of its pipeline, I'm starting to see little upside left in shares at these levels.
RNAi therapeutics expert Alnylam Phrmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALNY) also delivered big gains this week to the tune of 22% after reporting very encouraging mid-stage data for ALN-TTR02, its treatment targeting TTR-mediated amyloidosis. Its experimental drug ALN-TTR02 delivered a 93% reduction in TTR rates in patients, which is perfectly consistent with its early stage results that demonstrated a reduction in TTR rates of 94%. Peak sales estimates, should the drug be approved, range from $800 million to up to $2 billion, but I'd caution investors keep a level head on their shoulders in the meantime.
The bad
Don't say I didn't tell you so, but Insmed (NASDAQ:INSM) shares sank like a stone after reporting late-stage results for Arikace, its experimental treatment for non-tuberculosis mycobacterial lung infections. Although Arikace met its primary endpoint of being non-inferior to the current standard of treatment, TOBI, which is made by Novartis, the results didn't exactly wow analysts who now see limited upside even if it's approved by the FDA. Simply put, without any measurable differentiation, Insmed could have a hard time gaining sales traction and is still quite the long shot to be profitable.
The latest hepatitis-C nightmare came from Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN) which plunged 24% on the week after the FDA placed a clinical hold on its lead compound, sovaprevir (previously known as ACH-1625) because of a worrisome drug-to-drug interaction noted in early stage trials. According to Achillion's update, sovaprevir, when studied with atazanavir, was associated with elevated ALT enzymes in the liver, although no serious adverse events were documented. Even though the FDA is allowing Achillion to continue studying sovaprevir in its mid-stage trial with ACH-3102, it's just another setback for Achillion which is miles behind Gilead Sciences and AbbVie in terms of time it will take to bring a new hepatitis-C therapy to market.
The intriguing
While largely an under the radar story, I can't let the week end without mentioning the exciting potential news for patients with HIV. According to a report by Bloomberg, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) and Johnson & Johnson are testing a new vaccination (GSK 744 and TMC278) that could allow HIV patients the convenience of taking a shot once a month or once a quarter instead of popping pills every day for the rest of their life. In a 40-person HIV-negative study, researchers noted that the level needed to suppress progression or slow down the infection was adequate throughout the month and lasted for up to four months after the last injection.This is an exciting development worth keeping a close eye on!


text:
Posts Tagged Justine Killeen STORMA Accredited
SMEs key to growing UK low-carbon exports Emerging 'MUSTs' offer low-carbon market growth opportunities
Posted by Daniel Killeen in energy-psa.co.uk - News on 17 May, 2014
A new report researched and written by the Carbon Trust and commissioned by Shell Springboard has revealed the UK has an opportunity to triple its exports of low-carbon goods and services. The current £12 billion low-carbon exports could rise to £30 billion by 2020, if the growth rate is increased to 10%*. This reflects the rate required to ensure exports reach the UK government's £1 trillion target by 2020.


text:
Please note. For Unlimited Mileage Lease, only the remaining manufacturers warranty will apply
For Personal and Business Contract Hire damage charges and excess mileage charges may apply at the end of the contract and you will never own the vehicle
Call us now on 01282 423884
Quoting reference DSPV-7898
Click here to view other deals for this vehicle
** Prices are displayed exclusive of VAT
All offers are subject to change at any time, you must be 18 or over and finance is subject to status and credit check, vehicle availability and terms and conditions apply. We can introduce you to a limited number of finance companies, a commission may be received. Failure to maintain payments may result in termination of your agreement and the vehicle being returned, this could affect your credit rating and make it more difficult to obtain credit in the future. All prices correct at time of publication. You will not own the vehicle at the end of the contract.
All images and car descriptions on this site are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily an accurate representation of the vehicle on offer.
You should try and estimate the distance you will travel as accurately as possible to try and avoid excess mileage charges at the end of your contract.
* All images and car descriptions on this site are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily an accurate representation of the vehicle on offer.
01282 423884
EFL Vehicles Ltd
Empire Business Park
Empire Way
off Liverpool Road
EFL Vehicles Ltd are a credit broker and not a lender, we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered No : 722358
Registered in England & Wales with company number : 07800704 | Data Protection No : Z2918843 | VAT No : 121343365
Registered Office : Britannic House 657 Liverpool Road, Irlam, Manchester, Lancashire, M44 5XD
Specialists in Unlimited Mileage Van & Car Leasing.
Copyright © 2020 EFL Vehicles Ltd, All rights reserved.


text:
the plywood cabinet
You may remember a bit ago I blogged about these pillows from Swedish company How Are You, and I'm excited to share their newest product. Part of their collection Made For Us, the plywood cabinet comes in two sizes and are built on demand to suite your color choices for the inside. I think shades of mint to grey would be nice!
Other Stories
7 comments:
Wow, too beautiful to keep closed! I'd love to put something like this in a dining room area... and put your cool eclectic dishes on display. >_<ReplyDelete
Stunning!! Just love it! Wish they had these in Brazil! It's hard to find original furniture here!!ReplyDelete
I love this cabinet! I could so use it in my office (or twelve) to hold my books but look chic so I can hold meetings in it. Well heck a girl can dream can't she?ReplyDelete
Love this so much!ReplyDelete
Omg, they're ombre on the inside?!ReplyDelete
Beautiful cabinet! Really stands out, especially with the lilac wall color in the background!ReplyDelete
How pretty! I love the wood and color gradient! :)ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


text:
Earlier this week, we received an email from Master Hroar and I thought others might be interested in this peek behind the curtain.
Master Hroar is the potter behind Two Hearts Entwined Pottery, and has worked with clay as an independent potter for the past 30 years.
Now then, from Master Hroar:
I know you guys have seen the soup bowls glazed in shino before, but this time I used Dixon Clay from Arrdvarks. The results a pretty awesome, I feel. And the clay is damn interesting to throw with! 8-)
This one is in the Dixon clay, which is considered a sculptural clay. VERY course with tons of heavy grog. Which means I LOVE throwing with it! 8-) Besides the heavy grog, it also has lots of RIO in it. This influences the glaze color considerably.
The glaze inside is a brown I make, the covered inside and out with Coyotes Shino. It was dipped with the handle side down, and up to slightly beyond the middle. Allowed to dry, then the procedure was the same on the other side. So, in the middle, we have a double layer of shino, single layers on the ends.
the same as above is true for this soup bowl.
I wanted to show the coarse nature of Dixon Clay on a fired piece. Also, a rubber kidney was drawn across it to help somewhat smooth it. Still, the grog does show.
On these oil lamps, I used a blue glaze I make, and poised it off the Coyote Purple Blue glaze. I feel very satisfied with this glaze. It is very subtle, and seems to work at its best advantage on a white clay body. Any darker and the subtlety is lost. Here, the gold blush comes through nicely, as does the purple and the blue. Also, this is a single dip. Any more and there is the danger of it running. I know; I have had to grind a few pieces from that.


text:
Sept. 13, 2012 — The FDA has approved Aubagio (teriflunomide), a new drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The once-a-day tablet will be prescribed to adults with relapsing forms of the chronic, incurable disease.
In a two-year study, the Aubagio reduced yearly relapses by nearly a third compared to placebo. It also slowed the progression of the disease.
"We are greatly encouraged to see a new oral therapeutic option become available to people living with MS," said Timothy Coetzee, PhD, chief research officer at the National MS Society, in a news release issued by the drug's developer, Genzyme.
MS is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. About 400,000 people in the U.S. have MS. As many as two-thirds of them are women. The disease is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
MS often gradually worsens over time. It causes fatigue, pain, vision and muscle problems, and other difficulties.
Warnings and Side Effects
Aubagio does not come without risks. The drug's label will include a boxed warning that alerts to the risk of potentially fatal liver problems. The label advises that patients' liver function should be tested before starting Aubagio and while on the drug.
The box warning also mentions the risk of birth defects. Women should not be pregnant when they start the drug and must use birth control while taking it.
Other possible side effects include diarrhea, abnormal liver tests, nausea, and hair loss.


text:
The fastest growing small-businesses in the government market share stories of personal, business success
There are personal stories and business stories, and the 2013 Washington Technology Fast 50 list is full both.
From No. 1 OBXtek Inc. to No. 50 Triumph Enterprises Inc., you have stories of founders making sacrifices and taking risks to follow a dream. You also have savvy executives who are taking advantage of small business programs and leveraging past work experience.
But mostly, you have both because in the small business world, success is measured in both personal terms and with dollars and cents.
For the 2013 Fast 50, the annual rankings are based on five years of revenue, which are used to calculate a compound annual growth rate. The companies are then ranked according to that growth rate, or CAGR. Companies are not ranked according to their overall revenue.
That's why a company like OBXtek, with $29.6 million in 2012 revenue, but a CAGR of 302.9 percent, is ranked No. 1, while No. 32 ThunderCat Technology with $216.4 million in 2012 revenue is ranked No. 32 with a CAGR of 65.45 percent.
Eligibility for the rankings also is based on being considered a small business by the federal government, either purely by size, or by participating in one of the government's small business programs, such as being an 8(a), veteran-owned, HUBZone or women-owned business.
The first thing you notice about OBXtek is its name, and when you dig into that, you discover both a personal story and a business decision.
The company started as a one-man shop by founder Bruce "Ed" Jesson, and he was looking for a way to get his company noticed.
"It dawned on me that up in the Northern Virginia/Maryland area, you've got 10,000 people with these bumper stickers that say OBX," Jesson said, so naming the company OBXtek was a good way to get the name out there.
But behind the savvy marketing move is the fact that Jesson owns a beach house in the Outer Banks, and he uses the house as a rewarded for employees.
"We provide our employees, especially some of the ones that go way beyond the call of duty, a week down at the beach house for themselves and their families," he said.
At SAVA Workforce Solutions Inc., No. 4 with a CARG of 156.3 percent, Chris Jenkins isn't the founder, but he may as well be. He was brought in as the leader of the company in 2006 when it had only four employees.
His business story includes the decision to join a very small company with two small contracts that was struggling to grow.
Step one was refocusing the company to concentrate on solutions and subject matter expertise in law enforcement, the Defense Department and the intelligence community. "We did that because that's the community we understand," he said.
Jenkins is a 13-year veteran of the Army, where he was a special agent-in-charge in the investigative division where he worked in contract fraud and was involved with the intelligence community. That background has driven SAVA's focus on defense, intelligence and law enforcement customers.
Susan Kidd, founder and CEO of DRT Strategies Inc., No. 30 with a CAGR of 70.9 percent, shares a similar story in that her company also has found success in keeping focused on what it does best, and avoiding distractions.
In the case of DRT Strategies, Kidd knew that the part she liked best about management consulting was getting projects across the finish line and delivering results. When the opportunity came to start her own company, she jumped at the chance, even though owning her own company was never part of a career plan for her, she said.
"It was all good timing," she said. She launched her company when a former co-worker, who had started his own company, was looking for a subcontractor.
That her company blossomed from there is part of the personal story for Kidd. Her parents divorced when she was 12, and Kidd took on several adult responsibilities as she had to help her Korean-born mother navigate English and U.S. culture.
But Kidd is quick to point to her mother, who worked as seamstress in a factory when Kidd was growing, as being a critical element of her success with DRT. "I give her a lot of credit. She was in a tough circumstance, and she definitely instilled a strong work ethic in us," Kidd said.
While the personal stories may vary from company to company on the Fast 50, one common element, besides success, emerges on the business side, and that's a desire to be an independent company.
"I wanted the ability to design my own career," said Matt Dean, president of Markon Solutions, No. 39 with a CAGR of 57.26 percent. "I didn't want other people to limit my success."
That sentiment has been a guiding principle for the company's culture. "Everybody has the opportunity to be a leader," he said.
An independent streak is critical in today's market, as small business struggle against tight budgets and a slower flow of new opportunities.
Executives reported seeing smaller contracts being consolidated into larger ones, and even if they are still tagged as small-business opportunities, the larger size is making small businesses focus more on teaming and partnerships.
The tighter market also makes it imperative that companies focus on customers and core capabilities.
"If you can understand your customer-base, that's where it is at," said SAVA's Jenkins.
About the Author
Nick Wakeman is the editor-in-chief of Washington Technology. Follow him on Twitter: @nick_wakeman.
Printable Format
E-Mail this page
Senator McCaskill can pat herself on the back now. While I congratulate these companies on their achievements, I am assuming that each company has 2 or 3 owners. That equates to 100 or 150 individual owners of these 8a businesses.
Alaska Native Corporations and Tribes have thousands of owners as community based 8a. Thanks to McCaskill the scholarships and other benefits that have lifted thousands of Native communities in the past are now struggling to exist.
However, now she is focused on pushing your audit, so beware.
Advanced Search
Sign up for our newsletter.
I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.
Nazzic Keene has led SAIC for just over one year and she shares how her early priorities continue to drive the company forward, plus how COVID-19 is complicating everything.
Read More
In this episode of the Project 38 podcast, Senior Staff Writer Ross Wilkers talks with executives from the big 3 of government telecom about how they have kept agencies and people connected during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More


text:
70" Red Premium Square Polyester Tablecloth
Item Number: TAB_SQUR_70_RED_POLY
- Material: Polyester
- Size: 70" x 70"
- Seamless: Yes
- Hemmed edges
- Stain and Wrinkle Resistant.
- High Quality: 200 GSM
- How to Care: Warm water wash, bleach safe. Low temp dry. Can be reused again and again.
- All sizes are approximate measurements
- Due to different light settings the actual color might vary a bit from the pictures.


text:
A sustainability pioneer who apprenticed with an Egyptian architect who championed safe, low-cost housing, now builds adobe homes in the Texas desert and founded a nonprofit to teach others how.
In 1972 during a Paris dinner party, a friend told Simone Swan to read Architecture for the Poor by Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy. The book changed her life. Deeply moved by Fathy's philosophy, Simone went to Egypt where she apprenticed with Fathy, then went on to build adobe houses in the west Texas desert using knowledge she gained half a world away. She went on to found a nonprofit — the Adobe Alliance (AdobeAlliance.org) — in order to carry out experiments in adobe building methods, including developing plasters that breathe. The Alliance schedules at least one workshop a year on how to build healthy, beautiful, and affordable homes.
In the 1960s and early '70s Simone founded and ran Withers Swan, a unique public relations agency in New York that specialized in art and the environment and whose clients included museums and universities. Later she served as executive vice president of the Menil Foundation, a philanthropic organization. Then she read Fathy's book in French (the French title translates as Building with the People), and was transformed by the architect's vision of a sustainable society in which people in need of housing gained health, pride, and inspiration by cooperatively building their own beautiful homes from native materials such as earth. Simone contacted Fathy and went to Egypt several times to study architecture with him, visit his projects, assist him with translations, and help develop an institute to educate people about Fathy's vision for low-income housing. By the time he died in 1989, Simone was determined to carry on his ideas.
Common ground
What do the pyramids and sand dunes of Egypt have in common with west Texas? More than you might think, according to Simone. Both are fertile river valleys located in deserts, and even the climate and birds are similar. Egyptian culture centers around the Nile Valley, and Presidio, Texas — where Simone designs and builds adobe houses — is located at the confluence of the Rio Conchos and Rio Grande rivers (creating a fertile agricultural region) in the northeast corner of the Chihuahuan desert, about fifty miles west of Big Bend National Park. Like Egypt, agriculture was once a mainstay of Presidio's economy, however landowners sold their water rights to El Paso, so Presidio now, also like Egypt, experiences high unemployment and significant poverty. Both regions have traditions of building homes out of the earth.
While visiting Big Bend National Park in 1991, Simone decided on a whim to assist with the restoration of a seventeenth-century hacienda that was named Fort Leaton when it became a fortified trading post in 1850. Simone thought that in Presidio she could carry on Fathy's work. To this end Simone founded the nonprofit Adobe Alliance in the mid 1990s. Her goal is to build low-cost, energy-efficient housing that is climactically and environmentally compatible with desert environments. The people who attend Adobe Alliance workshops are inherently interested in, and attracted by, earth architecture.
A sheltering oasis
Simone's home — Swan House — offers a sheltering oasis, and the curvaceous adobe roofing adds a touch of Islamic influence to this open Texas mesa dotted with stands of whip-like ocotillo and bushy creosote. Much of Simone's design is based on what she learned from her mentor, and his influence is seen clearly in the courtyards and the roofline: five vaulted roofs and one dome.
Simone's house, which she designed in an H shape, features two courtyards — one on each end of the H — that function as cooling devices and outdoor rooms in which to enjoy meals amidst blooming bougainvillea and a splashing fountain. A ramada (a wooden structure supported by posts) made of ocotillo harvested from the property offers another delightful space for relaxing or eating and provides shade for the home's south façade.
Twenty-inch-thick walls made of adobe bricks constructed on site (with manure added for viscosity and straw for structure) give Swan House its strength and stability. Because the onsite soil was caliche (a crust of calcium carbonate that forms on the stony soil of arid regions), it was necessary to bring in clayey soil to make the adobe. All of the rooms feature clay saltillo tile floors that provide a counterpoint for the adobe walls, except for the gallery, where smooth adobe floors are sealed with turpentine and linseed oil.
The H-shaped design divides the home into public and private spaces. One arm of the H holds the kitchen and dining room and the cozy TV room where Simone watches news from around the world; the other contains two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Simone enjoys working in the long gallery — lit by four clerestory windows — that connects the two wings. The total living space, which includes the main house and separate guest quarters, is 1,600 square feet.
Swan House is off the grid. The lights, TV, DC electric refrigerator, well pump, swamp cooler/wall fan, telephone, and computer are powered by a twelve-panel solar photovoltaic system and a wind turbine. While Simone cooks with propane and uses it to heat hot water on demand, Swan House has no heat source other than passive solar. During the rare cold spell, she shrinks her needs and lives primarily in the TV room, which she heats with a propane gas heater.
"My house is a prototype," Simone says. "We experimented as we went along. I went ahead on the strength of having studied with Hassan Fathy and built this house by the seat of my pants. I did it because I had to, which means anyone can." Is she happy with the outcome? "I'm spoiled by living in an adobe house," Simone says. "When you build a natural home, you can't stand to live in anything else unless it's an old, well-designed building or a new, well-built one."
ENN would like to thank Natural Home Magazine for their permission to reprint this article.


text:
Video of this weekend's panel discussion, Born Digital: Conservation in the Computer Age, is now online, featuring computer arts pioneer Lillian Schwartz, and digital humanities scholars Matthew Kirschenbaum and Lori Emerson, with Ben Fino-Radin chairing. Some highlights: Lillian's opening remarks at 28:00, Lori discussing Ralph Ellison's use of an enormous portable Osborne 1 computer in his writing of Juneteenth (54:21), and Matthew sharing slides of his summer vacation to an underground nitrate film vault.
At 1:05:53, Ben also recounts one of the heroic moments of the recent XFR STN media conservation project: the recovery of artwork by Phil Sanders from an obsolete 10 Megabyte hard drive. It was a Herculean effort, ultimately successful thanks to computer historian Jason Scott's knowledge of the Apple II system and Doron Ben-Avraham's understanding of magnetism.